Extraction of metals and their compounds from ores and impure materials



Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALADAR PACZ, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXTRACTION OF METALS AND- No Drawing.

My invention relates to the extraction of metals or components thereof from their ores, or impure compounds or mixtures, and

more particularly to such extraction of tungsten and its compounds although it is also applicable to the extraction-of molybdenum and vanadium and their compounds. The object of my invention is to provide a comparatively rapid and simple method by means of which a product is secured of a degree of purity comparable with that secured by other considerably more tedious and costly methods and refinements According to my invention, I react on the ore or other material containing the .desired metal with an alkali-metal nitrite, such as the nitrite of sodium, potassium or other fixed element of the same chemical group. In the case of tungsten, my method is applicable to ores in which the tungsten is present in combination with iron, manganese or combinations of these elements. Such ores are wolframite, ferberite and hubernite. Impure tungstic acid produced by other methods may also be the subject of treatment. In the case of molybdenum, im-

pure molybdic acid may be reacted on. In

the case of vanadium, iron vanadate or impure vanadic acid may be treated.

The fixed. alkali-metal nitrite utilized according to my invention is'a fusible selec tive solvent which combines with the tungsten, molybdenum or vanadium, as the case may be, but does not combine with the silica, iron or most of the other impurities.

In applying my invention to tungsten, and particularly to its ore wolframite, I mix together about four kilograms of concentrated finely ground wolframite containing usually about 60% or over of tungstic oxide (W0 about two kilograms of sodium nitrite and a little water to cause a more thorough dissemination of the nitrite and to form a paste. This is dried and fused on a hot plate by means of a torch. The fused product is then dissolved in Water. This gives a solution of sodium Application filed December 14, 1923.

THEIR COMPOUNDS FROM ORES AND IMPURE MATERIALS.

Serial No." 680,744.

tungstate which may be evaporated to produce the solid tungstate or tungstic acid may be produced by the usual methods.

The tungstate and tungst-ic acid produced by the above method are of a high degree of purity and run quite uniform.

In the following claims I have used the expression tungsten or a' related metal to indicate tungsten, molybdenum or vanadium.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The method of separating a rare metal of the 6th group or compound thereof from an ore or other impure material containing the same which consists in reactingon said ore or other material with an alkali-metal nitrite.

2. The method of separating a rare metal of the 6th group or a compound thereof from an' ore or other impure material containing the same which consists in fusing said ore or other material with an alkali-metal nitrite.

3. The method of separating a rare metal of the 6th group or a compound thereof from an ore or other-impure material containin the same which consists in reacting on sai ore or other material with sodium nitrite.

4. The method of separating tungsten or a compound thereof from an ore or other impure material containingthe same which consists in reacting on said ore or other material with an alkali-metal nitrite.

5. The method of separating tungsten or a compound thereof from an ore or other impure material containing the same which consists in fusing said ore or other material with an alkali-metal nitrite.

- 6. The method of separating tungsten or a compound thereof from an ore or other impure material containing the same which consists in fusing said ore or other material with an alkali-metal nitrite and dissolving the fusion in water.

7. The method of separating tungsten or compound thereof from an ore or otherimpure material containing the same which consists in reacting on said ore or other material with sodium nitrite.

8. The method of separating tungsten or compound thereof from an ore or other impure material containing the same which consists in fusing said ore or other material with sodium nitrite.

9. The method of separating tungsten or compound thereof from an ore or other im- 1 In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 my hand this 12th day of December, 1923.

ALADAR PACZ. 

